Time to fight for the Republic

Throughout history, there have been great events that have changed the fate and destiny of humanity. Wars, migrations, epidemics, revolutions, and coups are among them. The source of the new, positive, or negative situations that emerge after major changes lies here.

As an example, we can cite the plague epidemic that occurred in Europe in the 14th century. Millions of people lost their lives due to a major epidemic. However, we can say that the events that occurred during and after the epidemic were among the factors that led to the Renaissance and subsequently the Enlightenment. Results such as the massive drop in the workforce, the emergence of large, abandoned agricultural lands, and the questioning of the church's power shaped the following centuries.

An epidemic that caused the deaths of millions of people served as the basis for events that would move humanity forward in terms of its consequences.

I believe a similar situation applies to the founding of our Republic.

Just as in the example above, although the events leading up to 1923 were extremely destructive, they gave rise to a new birth.

The establishment of a new state and the proclamation of the republican regime were not the result of a decision made in a single day, but were due to the necessities imposed by history. The flow of history created the conditions for the establishment of a new Turkish state in Anatolia.

The Republic was founded after a great destruction. In Atatürk's words, a "ruined country on the edge of a cliff" defeated its internal and external enemies and succeeded in establishing a revolutionary republic.

THE TURKISH REVOLUTION IS ONE OF THE MOST PROGRESSIVE AND ENLIGHTENED MOVEMENTS IN HISTORY

Mustafa Kemal saw Anatolia, the Balkan lands, and Tripoli, and fought there. He was aware that it was impossible to revive the empire and that the offices of the sultanate and the caliphate had no importance or function left.

The cadres who founded the Republic personally experienced the desperation and deprivation brought about by the loss of political and economic independence. For this reason, the issue that was perhaps fought over the most in Lausanne was the abolition of the capitulations.

Because it was impossible to live under a legal system far from the requirements of the age, we enacted the Civil Code in 1926. It is admirable that such a legal revolution could be carried out at that time.

At the foundation of our Republic lie full independence and secularism. We can say that other revolutions and principles rise around these two. Without these two, the others will remain suspended.

CURRENT SITUATION

The picture before us in October 2025 is as follows; our 102-year-old Republic is officially standing, but unfortunately, its institutions appear to have drifted away from loyalty to the Republic.

Political parties, the judiciary, universities, the military, the press... Surveys and studies are being published showing that the trust in these institutions among citizens is extremely low.

There is a saying by İsmet Pasha to his officers during the Battle of İnönü: "Know the situation we are in. The Sultan is your enemy. The seven great powers are your enemies. Look at me, let no one hear, the nation is your enemy."

After more than a century has passed, if we wanted to address the nation instead of the officers this time; what should we say about the politicians, the institutions that do not properly fulfill their duties derived from the constitution, and the capitalist class that came into existence thanks to the Republic and began to support all kinds of reactionism in a short time?

Would it be too harsh to use words like negligence, delusion, and even treason?

Today, the nation is alone. In a country where reactionism, exploitation, theft, and poverty are rampant, there is no institution it can rely on to overcome its ill-fated destiny. It must protect its independence, secularism, labor, the nature of its homeland, and its wealth itself.

Referring to the Amasya Circular; "The independence of the nation will be saved by the nation's own resolve and decision."

Current conditions are difficult; however, we have no choice but to fight for our Republic to be the protector of the unprotected.

Happy 102nd anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. May the souls of the great Atatürk and our heroes be at peace.

Long live the fully independent, secular Republic of Turkey.